Anyone planning a corporate event knows that regardless of whether you are hosting clients, potential customers, or current staff for a company party, the way you design your event experience offers a reflection on your brand for all who attend. No matter who is on your guest list, you want your event to demonstrate professionalism, highlight the qualities that are important to your company, and impress your attendees for all the right reasons. While the decor and the structure of the event itself are intertwined with the purpose of your event and the impression you want to give your attendees, there are plenty of ways that your event catering can offer an easy and effective way to promote and highlight your brand in memorable ways.

From small subtle touches to comprehensive brand showcasing and integration with your menu and food displays, there are a number of innovative and creative ideas (both new and old) that you can use to wow your guests and attendees and have them leave your event with the right impression of your brand for the future.

Here are some of the best ideas for integrating branding into event catering for you to consider using in the future and to help you brainstorm as you work with your caterer to plan the perfect brand-centric food service for your event.

Dinnerware featuring your brand or logo

Many catering companies can direct you toward (or work directly with) suppliers who will create custom plates, napkins, and glassware (among other things) that feature your brand and logo as part of your event catering. Whether you simply want disposable items that subtly highlight your brand for your guests, or want to leave them with a glass or coffee mug they can keep as a souvenir of the event itself, this is one of the more traditional (but nevertheless, effective) methods for keeping your brand front and center throughout the event’s food service.

Have your event catering feature your brand’s color scheme

From the colors of the plates and cups being used, to the icing on your desserts or even the types of cheese featured on your buffet, your caterer can often tailor a menu that helps feature your brand’s color scheme throughout the different courses of your event’s food service. This is also a great choice if you prefer a more subtle touch to emphasize your company’s brand – instead of having your guests see your logo everywhere they turn, incorporating your color scheme into your catering allows you to still keep your brand in their minds while not being too overbearing.

Let guests enjoy creative cookies or cakes that feature your logo

One of the more popular ideas for incorporating branding directly into food service involves serving cookies, cupcakes, or even a large sheet cake that features company branding or logos in icing or garnishes of the desserts. Whether you plan to feature a single large cake for your event dessert, or a number of dessert trays with smaller individual items, this is an easy method to place your brand into the mind of your guests as food service is beginning to wrap up. Additionally, by leaving a lasting impression on attendees’ minds right before the event ends, this is the kind of small touch that can stick out in their memories of the event days, weeks, or months later.

Give away branded treat or goodie bags

One modern take on a traditional idea involves rethinking the traditional “doggy bag” for taking home goodies from an event dinner, as more and more corporate event hosts have begun including small giveaway bags that include baked goods, candy, or other items in custom-designed treat or goodie bags that are distributed as attendees depart. This is another simple method to feature your brand, logo, or color scheme, and similar to custom-designed desserts, this allows your guests to take your brand home with them after the event is completed. One innovative recent trend involves small items like gumballs that can be decorated to feature your color scheme and logo on each individual piece.

Sandwich trays or appetizer platters in the shape of your logo

Another great option that many catering companies offer are branded platters and food trays that can be easily incorporated into your appetizer or buffet displays, from appetizers through desserts. While these items are more difficult to make, they can be especially impressive to guests and attendees and are a great option to showcase on your social media or company publicity accounts. Because these are also less common than some of the other suggestions on this list, this is the kind of touch that your guests will be talking about long after the event ends.

Feeling fancy? Incorporate branded ice sculptures into your food displays

If your company’s budget allows for it, for a major company event (such as a holiday party or anniversary celebration), teaming with your caterer and another vendor to feature custom ice sculptures that enhance and highlight both your food display and your brand is another way to wow your guests and have them talking about your event long after it’s over. This is another more traditional choice, but one that has been popular among corporate event planners for a reason – it works.

One more bonus tip: Ask your event caterer what creative ideas they have!

When all else fails, trust in the professionals. Your event caterer may have a number of creative ideas of their own that can make your event catering even more memorable and unique than the various popular ideas on this list. Simply explain to them what your goals are for featuring your brand or logo as part of your food service, and let them help brainstorm methods for incorporating it as part of your catering as a whole. You may be surprised at what they can design and feature for you!